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Compare Two Lists

Paste two lists of names, emails, ids or any values, one per line or separated by commas. You get three columns: only in list A, in both, and only in list B, with a count for each. Unlike a line-by-line text diff, the order does not matter: it is a comparison of the values themselves.

Values found in both lists

2 in both

1 only in A · 1 only in B · A has 4 values, B has 3 (different values compared)

Options

Only in A (1)

  • apple

In both (2)

  • Banana
  • cherry

Only in B (1)

  • date

Values are compared as a whole, wherever they sit in each list: the order does not matter. Up to 20,000 values and 1,000,000 characters per list; each column shows the first 500. The column copy buttons and the CSV copy every value; the summary lists only the first 10 of each column. In the CSV, a cell that starts with = + - or @ gets an apostrophe so a spreadsheet does not run it as a formula. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.

How it works

  1. Paste list A and list B. One value per line, or switch the format to commas, semicolons and tabs.
  2. Read the counts and the three columns. Matching ignores upper and lower case unless you ask for it.
  3. Choose whether duplicates are counted, or whether each value counts once.
  4. Copy one column, the summary or a CSV with the three columns.

What people use it for

  • Checking two mailing lists

    See who is on the old list but not on the new one before you send a message.

  • Finding what changed between exports

    Compare two lists of products, ids or file names taken on different days.

  • Reconciling attendees

    Match the people who signed up with the people who showed up.

Questions

How is this different from a text diff?
A text diff compares two texts line by line and in order, and marks what was added, removed or moved. This page compares the two lists as sets of values wherever they are: a value on line 1 of A and on line 9 of B counts as being in both. Use the text diff when the order of the lines matters.
What does counting duplicates change?
With duplicates ignored, each value counts once per list. With duplicates counted, a value is matched as many times as it appears on both sides: A with a, a, b and B with a, c gives 1 in both (a), 2 only in A (a and b) and 1 only in B (c).
What do case and spaces do?
By default Anna and anna are the same value, and spaces around a value are ignored. The first spelling found is the one shown. Turn on case sensitivity to treat them as different. Empty values are always skipped.
Are there limits? Is the CSV safe to open in a spreadsheet?
Each list holds up to 20,000 values and 1,000,000 characters, and a longer paste gets an error message instead of being cut. Also, the columns show the first 500 of each. The column copy buttons and the CSV copy every value; the summary lists only the first 10 of each column. In the CSV, a cell that starts with = + - or @ gets an apostrophe in front so a spreadsheet does not run it as a formula. Nothing you paste leaves your browser.